Mark Schlereth announced as 2016 Semoball Awards speaker

Sportscaster and former NFL guard Mark Schlereth has been announced as the speaker for this year's Semoball Awards.

The announcement was made this morning by rustmedia general manager Lucas Presson at HealthPoint Fitness in Cape Girardeau.

"It's exciting to have Mark Schlereth involved with this year's Semoball Awards," Southeast Missourian sports editor Josh Mlot said. "He's someone I think a lot of people will be familiar with from his time in the NFL and on television, and we hope will inspire the student-athletes and add to the memories they have of the night."

GLENN LANDBERG ~ glandberg@semissourian.com Southeast Missourian sports editor Josh Mlot and Southeast Missourian publisher Jon Rust unveil the 2016 Semoball Awards speaker at HealthPoint Fitness in Cape Girardeau Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016.

The Semoball Awards are presented by presenting sponsor SoutheastHEALTH, official bank sponsor First Midwest Bank, title sponsors Athlon Sports and the St. Louis Cardinals and radio partner SEMO ESPN Radio, along with the area's five newspapers.

"As someone who ran track in high school and a father of a son who plays collegiate baseball, I know first-hand the hours of training and dedication it takes to be a top athlete," said Kenneth Bateman, president and CEO of SoutheastHEALTH. "It also takes teamwork. That team consists of not only your teammates but also your coaches, trainers, parents and community. It's a whole support system.

"As president and chief executive officer for SoutheastHEALTH, we are honored to be part of the sports community and proud to partner with Rust Communications and the Semoball program to acknowledge local athletes who excel in their sport and in the classroom."

A two-time Pro Bowl selection and 1997 All-Pro, Schlereth played 12 NFL seasons after being drafted by the Washington Redskins in the 10th round in 1989 out of the University of Idaho. In all, Schlereth spent six seasons with the Redskins and six with the Denver Broncos, earning three Super Bowl rings, in 1992, 1998 and 1999.

Schlereth played 156 games during his NFL career before retiring in April 2001 after his 29th surgery.

Upon retirement, Schlereth joined ESPN as an NFL analyst. He can be seen on NFL Live, First Take, SportsCenter and ESPNEWS, and he annually contributes to ESPN's Super Bowl week and NFL Draft coverage. Schlereth also cohosted ESPN Radio's Hill & Schlereth with partner Mike Hill.

Outside of ESPN Schlereth released his first book "Ready, Set, Play!", a collection of stories by famous athletes, coaches and public personalities and the impact their parents had on them as children. He also launched Mark Schlereth's Stinking Good Green Chili in April 2008.

Schlereth's previous work includes a weekly NFL column for the Washington Examiner, and co-host of a local Denver sports radio show. He also had a recurring role as Detective Roc Hoover on CBS's long-running daytime soap opera Guiding Light from 2006 to 2009.

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